“I am pleased that Gov. Brown has signed AB 1440 into law, upholding the trust and faith our local law enforcement work to develop with local communities every day to provide for the public’s safety,” Kalra said in a statement. “Under the new federal administration, ICE and CBP are undertaking unprecedented and aggressive tactics to identify, monitor, and detain undocumented immigrants for deportation. This bill sends a clear message – that in California, law enforcement officers are sworn to protect all residents, regardless of their immigration status.”

According to the Assembly analysis of the bill, it is not uncommon for ICE agents to detain a person on suspicion of immigration status without a warrant. According to the analysis, ICE agents have claimed to be police officers to gain consent to enter a person’s home – a tactic that is viewed as unethical, but within the powers granted to the officers.

“Recognizing that federal law pre-empts state law, this bill may be viewed as symbolic. However, as California and the rest of the nation enter into a new reality of aggressive and, at times, deceitful actions undertaken to enforce immigration actions, California must take any and all necessary actions to disassociate the actions of federal ICE agents with those of licensed state and local peace officers,” Kalra said.

Civil rights groups supported Kalra’s bill, looking to stymie the Trump administration’s promise to use any and all available tools to deport undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes. Many groups fear the administration will expand deportations to include all undocumented immigrants, their families and relatives.

“Gov. Brown is sending the right message that these unethical tactics by ICE under the Trump administration will not be tolerated in California,” said Christopher Sanchez, policy advocate for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights. “To have ICE deceive our communities that they are police officers only creates greater mistrust between law enforcement and the immigrant community. We applaud the passage of Assembly Bill 1440 as we continue to educate our communities of the deception created by the Trump administration.”

Kalra said the training undergone by the state’s licensed peace officers and that received by ICE and CBP agents are not equivalent. California peace officers receive a minimum of 664 hours training, while ICE agents receive five weeks of Spanish-language training and an 80-day basic law enforcement class.

Comments

Bob
11 months ago

What a very misleading headline!! California can't tell ICE agents or CBP officers they are forbidden to call themselves police. They are federal law enforcement officers and agents with federal police powers. No state can tell a federal agency on what
they can nor can't call themselves, ridiculous!! Also, I find it funny how this assembly guy putting down ICE and CBP Training. Yes, you have the 5 weeks of Spanish-language training, but also, you have to complete FLETC training (Law Enforcement training)
and also, you have to do Agency's training (Immigration Law; Naturalization Law; Deportation Law; Fraud Documents; Court Testimony; Report Writing) and some other Agency requirements. So the training is not as bad as the Assembly person makes it out to be.
Also, if California Forbids U.S. Immigration Agents from Pretending to be Police, so why don't the police start arresting these Immigration Agents for impersonating police officers? Hmmm!!